Automobile lock



sept. 25, v1934.

E. L. KULlcK 1,974,495

AUTOMOBILE Locx Y Filed April '7, 1928 3 Shee'ts--Sheetv Al `nwm|l|f||ll| 25 Jigs, 2Q 47 J .19 29 l (Ig I ll 1I ,Z0 26 da 26 lf2 sept. z5, 1934.

E. l.. KULlcK 1,974,495

AUTOMOBILE LOCK Filed April 7, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 25, 1934- E. L. KUUCK 1,974,495

AUTOMOBILE LOCK Filed April 7, 1928 3 Sheets-sheet 3 Zgm l-L ,i E j il I w I twv" ff? I i r1 J7 il l -P 52 7 i@ l L L? '1 i ,n W

13g/Lig? i3 Patented Sept. 25, 1934 PATENT OFFICE AUTOMOBILE LOCK vEdward L. Kulick, Milwaukee,l Wis., assignor of 'one-half to Clara M. Farrell, Chicago, I/ll Application April 7, 1928 Serial No. 268,095 2z claims. (ci. 20o-19) My invention relates to automobile'locks and more particularly to yan improved type of ignition Ilock.

Specifically, the invention vprovides Amechanism forv permanently grounding the ignition circuit in the event an ima-uthorized attempt is made to wire around the loc-k switch on the dash board, Eby cutting the cable and connecting `the ignition wire directly to a source (of current supply, such as the battery.

In order to apprise those skilled in the art how .to construct and practice my invention, I shall vnow describe several preferred embodiments thereof -ta-ken yin connection with the accompanying ldrawings forming apart hereof.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a distributor illustrating the manner 4in which the circuit grounding mechanism is effectively locked to the distributor;

' Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of 'the device illustrated in Fig. 1, being partly broken away vto show the switch grounding-mechanism and a l.portion of the' distributor in section;

Fig. 22a illustrates the switch locking mechanism located-on the dash board of the automobile.

Fig. 3 is a Wiring diagram of Aone form of circuit;

Fig.' iis Aa 'horizontal sectional -view taken on 3o line 4 4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4u is a 'vertical sectional'view of one form of element used in the `circ-uit `groundingmechanism 'for establishing a ground connection.

Fig. 5is a perspective view of the distributor 35 with me Vcap and guard plate .omitted and the switch grounding mechanism :disassembled therefrom;

Fig. A6 is a detail view illustrating'thel manner in-which thek housing carrying the switch grounding mechanism is fitted in interlocking engagement with a plate `secured to one'side `of the distributor;

Fig. 7 is a bottom plan view of thedevice shown in Fig. -6;

Fig. 8 is a transverse vertical sectional view 'taken along line 8-8 of the housing of switch grounding mechanism shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 9 is a perspective detail view of a guard plate inserted within the housing;

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig.V 2 but illustrating another form of my invention;

Fig. 11 is a transverse vertical vsection taken alongline ll-llof Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a verticalsectional view taken along line' 1'2--12 of Fig. 11;

`circuit including a distributor or ignition wire 12,

a battery wire 13, a coil 14 connected therev`between when lock switch 10 is closed and a fusible element 15, including a grounded wire 16 yand a permanently open grounded circuit divided into a plurality of leads 17, 1-8 and 19. Wire 12 is connected to a distributor V20. i The ignition system is completed through a ground wire 22 and a ground connection 23 at one end of-fa vbattery 24. Wires 12 and 13 are 'connected to switch 10 at terminals 25 and 26, respectively. A third terminal 27, together with terminal 25, permits the insertion .of coil box 14 in the circuit. A 'fourth terminal 28 provides a connection for Aone end -of a permanently grounded wire 29 hav- 'ing a resistance 30 therein and grounded at the opposite end at 16, the purpose -of which will be presently described.

These terminals are suitably mounted at one end of locking mechanism 10. This locking mechanism may be of the ordinary type having a lock `cylinder operated 'by key 11. Terminals 25, 26, 27 and 28 are adapted to -be engaged 'by movable contact 30, which is Vcarried at one end of the lock cylinder and rotated by key 11.

It is the purpose of the disclosure herein 'to adopt any well known substantial and rugged form of 4locking mechanism, which is simple and not easily picked or broken.

When the ignition circuit is closed, contact 30 Ais in the position illustrated in full lines in Fig. 3. Current will flow from battery 24 through wire 13, terminal 26, movable switch contact 30, and from terminal 27 through coil box 14 to terminal 25, through'wire 12 to distributor 20.

It will be observed that an open lead 31, connected to terminal 26, lies 4parallel to wire 12 and -false wires 17, 18 and 19. When wires 12,

1'7, 18 and 19 and wire 31 are embodied in acable,

4cutting the cable or removing the insulation from the wires will invariably cause wire 31 to contact with any or all of the wires 17, 18 and 19. Wire 31 is a live wire at all times, irrespective of the position of movable switch contact 30, because such wire 31 is directly connected to battery wire 13 at terminal 26, as illustrated in Fig. 3.

`VContact of wire 31 with either or all of false connection for wire 12 when current iiows through 'j fusible element 15. It will be observed, therefore, that operation 15 of fusible element 15 permitsspring finger 32to.

snap into engagement withpin V33 to-v cause the ignition circuit to be grounded 'at 16. The resultA of this action is that it wuldibe further impos'- sible to shunt the circuit to the battery24to nullify the locking effect of mechanism 10 herein provided.'V Any number of false wires may be provided for theppen grounded circuit in the,c able enclosingthe same andconnecting to the locking mechanism 10, but the effect is toallow wire 3 1 25a ccident ally to contact with either of the false Wires thus provided. Assume, however, that a porgtio'n of theoutfde Covering of the cable has been y removedandthe Wires are exposed for a considerable distance toward thelockmechanism 10. Acr cess-tothe connections at this mechanism 10 will beprevented by an armourtube 35. secure ly attached to lock mechanism to protect the cable end. Armour tube lextends along cable 36' ,a suiiicient distance to act as a protective means, which ;35 prevents unravelingcf the insulation or covering of thecable to gainaccess tothe switchterminals. p Should the'vwires be exposed, however, as fiust; explained, it will be impossible to determine which V-wire 4is the distributor Wire leading to 4 0 the distributor. Experiments have indicated that itisvery unlikely for a person accidentally vto f chocse distributor lwire 12 before choosing-either ,of the wires 1 7, 18 or 19. 4 wires 1 7, 18 or 1Q is connected to the battery circuit, or source of current supply, fusible element 15 operates to ground the ignition circuit atY 16. lfirstiesting the'wires thus chosen to determine whether `a spark is given when the engine is turned over will be of .no avail, because this also 50 Vcauses fusible element 15 to ground the circuit, if

any of wires 17., 18er 1 9 is chosen. -Y In order to prevent an unauthorizedperson vor thief from Wiring around or short-circuitingl distributor-wire 1 2`by removingdistributor cap 36 5 andconnectingra jumper between terminal 37, shown in Fig. 2', Vand terminal 38 o f coil box 14, and a jumper betweenthe battery 24 and terminal 39, soas to circumvent the effective grounding action of the ignition circuit, as just described, i60 v when locking mechanism 10i is in vopen position with movable conductor 30 inthe dotted line position shownin Fig. 3, apermanentlygrounded wire V29 is provided. More particularly, wire29 vfur- ,nishes a groundconnection for distributor wire 12 whenthe circuitfis opened by lockmechanismlo.

Except for cuttingcable 136', which will establish a` ground connection by thefusing of ele- ;ment 15,'eifectivefaccessto wire 12 is-practically f impossible due to armourtube 35 at `switch vlocky@ ing mechanism 16Y and a similar armour tube40 at the distributor end.j Destruction of Wire 12 betweenterminals25 and 2'?Y of lock mechanism loyand-coilbox 14 and the placingoffshortcircuiting jumpers between the battery 24 and 375 fthe, c oil, box 14jand between the coil boX-. and

-ular forrnmay be adopted.'

the distributor 20 at the terminal 27 thereof, will not nullify the effect of the permanently grounded wire 29 to prevent supplying current to the distributor, because the current will iiow back from distributor 20 through the wire 12 across movable switch Contact 30 to grounded wire 29. This prevents the current from flowing through the distributor ito secure proper operationof the ignition system. Itwillbe noted,

therefore, that when lock mechanism 10 is in 85 operi position with the movable contact 30 in dotted line position, as shown in Fig. 3, the

`ignition system is eifectively grounded by the wire 12 connected to grounded wire 29 whereby or forwardlyv curved toact; as interlockingedges, with the edges 48 of housing 45. y

.. (One fof the featuresof my `invention islintertlockinglyfjto engage housing 45 with plate 46 to preventremoval of this housing after it is mount# ed in position. This feature is obtainedbypro-g;

distributor terminal `5 2, it will be -ccmpressed,; l16 but will again spring outwardly to engageagainst the under edge 53ofptern1inal 52 formedby cutting the lower portionaway. The upper half of distributor terminal'-52 has sufficient, body thereto to overcome any force employed to s hear,j.1 15

it if an attempt is madetoliftjhousing 45 -up- .wardlyby a; blow or other destructive means. Once either ofthe Plate 4 6V closes ofi the openrear face of housing 45, whenthe lattergis mounted in position thereon, by Aedges 48 :of housing 4 5 lying over the:, 1 20 inwardly bent edges47 -of plate 46.- Housing-45 is preferably madeof pressed steel and formed with its bottom slightly open, as indicated at A54,

to receive the horizontallycxtending flat piece 55 bent outwardly from plate 4 6. I-he.purpose. 1 25 offbending the. bottom piece :55 .outwardly from .plate'46is to allow' for theprovision of Van opening 56 accommodating .condenser wire 57 leading from distributorv terminal 52 to condenser 58.

After housing 45 ismounted in position, further; 1 30 downwardsliding movement is prevented by the Yin the topface 60 of housing 45, so as to assist in securing a rigid interlocking engagementfbetween housing, 45 and plate 46. The intermediate portion of plate 46 may be provided with depressions 61 therein to furnish asubstantial vbear; 3.40 `ing for Vthe platel against the outer surface of the distributor. l

- v It wiu be. undrstd that it' is a noyer feature of this invention to embody the fusible .element .1 5 in ahousing secured directly to-vdistributor 20.; 1 45 It will also be observed that Ihaveshown sev- ;eral different forms of fusible elements and in so far as the inventionlis concerned, any particln the form shown in Figs to 8, inclusiveijs fusible element 15 comprises `a cartridge 65, hav- -v ingend conductors 66 and 67 provided with pro- 'jecting pins '68 andf.` The wallf70 of .the cartridge is preferably of glass and coniin'es therein T' 5- an explosible substanceY 71, such as powder, adapted to ignite and break glass Vwall v.when a cenf tralafusible `wire 721 melts upon a iiow of current 'therethrough i x;

Cartr-idge is normally seated and held bef" loftween springy nger '32 and aiorwardly extend- -ingear .74 carried by a :conductor fastening 75, thefpins 68 Vand :69 entering openings` in the -nger and `earso as to secure perfect Contact and.preventzsiderdisplacernent of the cartridge.

15 "Both the spring ringer 32'and the conductor iasftening are mounted on a plate of insulation '7.6, which-.plate `is inserted in housing 45, as is 'clearly' illustrated in Fig. 2. The false wires 17, fl'iand 1'?A in cable '3W-enter housing 45 and con- 3220 neet by meansof a screw 77-to a forwardly extending portion 76 of conductor fastening75. `Finger-32 ispivotally mounted-on a pin 78 car- -ried by insulation plate 76, as illustrated in Figs. 2 'and 8. -A coil spring 81 encircles pin 78 and has `i' -225 'one end engaging against floor 79 of housing 45 and the other end against the underside of finger 32 as indicated at 86. Coil'spring 81, therefore', tends to urge finger 32 upwardly to hold lcariiidgef'fibetween it and the projection 230 74 lonconductor fastening' 75. *The `lower leg of :"sp'ring 811, engaging against'housing 45, provides f a permanently grounded connection for finger 32. Ignition'wire 12 enters housing 45, as illustratvv'edA in Fig.` 8, to connect With aterrninal 82; Ter- '.3'5 minal'82 is provided with the'forwardly projecting conductor pin 33r whichis' adapted to pass throughan'opening' 84 in platel50, as illustrated r11-ig.. 5, whereby 'to contact withA the spring connector 49 forconi'pleting theV circuit through 4g the primaryfint'errupter terminal V52 to distributor .50. It isdesirable to place a drop oi solder J overf'ithe end of pin 33 to secure it to connector 49, "asvillustrated in Fig. 4. It will also be observed in Fig. 4 that pin '33 is reducedat 84 to .315 provide a shoulder which, together with the forward' end 'of pin 78,.provides proper lagainst which plate 59 is held.

' Grounded wire 29is brought into housing 45 from cable 36 and is connected at 87 to a terabutments T50 minal-betw'een which and another terminal 88 a'resist'ancecoil 89 is interposed. A shortcon- :nection is'thenprovided 'between terminal 88 and the floor 79 of housing 45 'for the purpose of lestablishing a groundfor wire 29.-

Q55 From vthe foregoing description, it will be apparentthat a iiow vof current throughv fusible :wire 72 will ignite the powder' 71 and cause the cartridge k65 Yto explode. The glass wall '79 will "be shattered to permit the vaction of spring 81 to "raise nger 32 into contact with pin '33 connected to wire 12. rIhis latter .wire 12 is thereby ground- "ed'so' as'perinanently to ground the ignition eir- .cuit. The purpose for" cartridge v65 is positively to f"hold 'spring finger 32A out of vcontact with pin 33 -and to provide an immediate release thereof when 'current flows through its central fusible wire 72.

VItvv'ill be'und'erstood, of course, by those skilled inthe art that it lis practically impossible to devise locking mechanism which is totaly devoid of 127g 'accessor of'b'eing tampered Iwithv by an unauth- 135 A` 'deter-or hamper quick yaction on the part of the contacter arm 98.

without rst removing the plate.

`tially the saine. employ a different forni of fusible element 15. `Insulation block 76 is out away at 110, as noted in vof the body 113.

their in rendering the locking structure ineiective. To this end 1 have provided an armour plate 92, which is circular, and which is apertured at 93 to iit into the distributor and over its central shaft. Plate 92 is furnished with spaced downwardly projecting lugs 94 having threaded openings 95 for receiving the usual screws 96 which fasten a plate 97 carrying the well known Plate 97 is usually furnished with upstanding lugs 99 having threaded openings 199 for receiving these screws 96.

The purpose of plate 92 is temporarily to frustrate any attempt to disconnect conductor 103 from inner end 3'! of distributor terminal 52 and attach a jumper which leads to the coil or other proper connection so as to avoid this grounded distributor terminal. It will be noted in Fig. 4 that plate 92 lies over inner end 37 of terminal 52 to the extent that it is impossible to reach under the plate to disconnect conductor 103 The advantage of the use of plate 92 resides in the fact that the thief must rst back oir screws 96, in order to lift .plate 92 out of the distributor. Those skilled in the art appreciate that some time is required to perform this work, and consequently, the security of the lock is thereby increased to this extent. On the other hand, very few thieves Will undertake the removal of plate 92 in view of the fact that the length of time required to remove the plate is apt to attract attention and cause suspicion of those persons who may pass by at the time.

Another iorrn of my invention is shown in Figs. 1G to 14, inclusive. rThis construction is very simple and practical, and is inexpensive to manufacture on quantity production. The mode of attaching housing 45 to distributor 29 is substan- I prefer in this embodiment to Fig. 13, to receive a cartridge 105 comprising end conductors 111 and 1i2 spaced by an insulated body 113, and having an interconnecting fusible wire 1.1.4 disposed therebetween along the outside End conductor 112 is seated in eiectrical Contact with a conductor plate 115, to which is secured at 116 the false wires 17, 18 and 19. Upper end conductor 111 is similarly seated in electrical Contact with a conductor plate 117 having a forwardly proj sting lip 118 adapted to rrest and to be grounded against the underside of the upper wall oi housing 45, this being clearly seen in Fig. 12. Attached, as by riveting at 119, is a spring finger 12o held under tension at its free end by a ribbon 121 passing around the insulated body of cartridge 105 so as to engage against a portion of fusible wire 114, this ribbon being tied at 122 at the front of the finger. Ribbon 121 may be of any suitable material capable of releasing ringer 120 upon a flow of ciurent through wire 114, such release being accomplished either by the ribbon burning, or otherwise being destroyed by the hot wire 114. This wire will heat upon a now of current therethrough to the extent of burning or destroying the ribbon 122, so as to separate it at the line of engagement therewlth whereby to reiease the restrained spring finger 129. In this embodiment, insulation block 5G is provided with a conductor rivet 123 passing therethrough to furnish a face 124 immediately adjacent the tip 125 of spring finger 120. Conductor rivet is attached in electrical relation to member 49 which completes the normal igni- `tion circuit through cable'o to the distributor so that its forward en fas indicated at 13e,

12 is attached. Spring linger at the distributor terminal 52.

Ignition wire 12 extends into housing 45 and attaches therein to a conductor plate 126 at the point 127. Conductor plate 126 has a for- .wardly projecting lip 128, which passes through insuiation bloei; o, as noted at 129 in Fig. 10, may be bent upwardly, to contact with the lower edge of spring ringer 49. It willbe noted, therefore, that upon the burning or destruction of the ribbon and the Vrelease of spring finger 120, which Yis grounded at 118 to housing 45, the

forward tip 125 of finger 120 contacts with the inner face 124 or" conductor rivet 123, thereby 'to ground the normal ignition circuit. Burning .of ribbon 121 is the result of the current flowing through wire 114, as above stated, this being produced by cutting of the cable so as to bring any or all of false wires 17, 18 or 19 into contact with the open live wire 31, which is connected to. battery 24 or other source of current supply.

Grounded wire enters housing and passes through insulation plate 76 on the reverse side of insulation plate 76, connecting at 130 to conductor plate 115 by means of the conductor strip .131 leading to point 115, to which false wires 17, 18 and 1:9 are connected at the front side.

This grounded wire 29 is indirectly connected to upper conductor plate 117 by means of a resistance coil 133, which passes through a pas- 134 singularly cut in insulation plate 76 (sec Fig; i3) and through another passage 135 horizontally cut to permit resistance coil 133 to Contact with conductor 118 at the point 136,

as shown at one side oi plate 76 in Fig. 12. The purpose or" this arrangement is to permit wire 29 to. have the same function as any one of the false wires 17, 1S and 19 in the event the cable is cu-V and live wire 31 brought into contact with wire 29. The current will flow directly to conductor plate 115 through fusible Wire 114, the conductor plate 117 and ground at the eXtension 118, thereby causing ribbon 121 to burn and releasenger 120 so as to ground the ignition wire 112 through finger 12).

Another form of the invention is shown in Fig. 15. In this embodiment the releasable Enger 140 is normally carried on the rear face ci insulation block and is connected in circuit at the point 141, to which ignition wire 49 is attached to the connection 141 on the front side of ignition block 5) so as to complete the circuit through the distributor at terminal 5'?. A grounded plate 142 is mounted within housing 45 and spaced a predetermined distance to the rear of insulation plate 5G. At the upper end of insulation plate 50, I provide a conductor connection 143 to which the false wires 1'?, 18 and 19 are connected. Spring finger 140 is normally held under tension by'a fusible wire 115 connecting between conductor `plate 143 and the tip of this nger. Grounded wire 29 connects to grounded plate 142 at the peint 143. In the event open live wire 31 contacts with either of false wires 17, 181er 19, the current will flow through fusible wire 145and cause the same to fuse and `release spring ringer 14u whereby to allow the latter to flip baclnrardly and remain in contact with grounded plate 142. The ignition circuit is thereafter permanently grounded and without gaining access to the interior of housing 45, it is impossible to remove this grounded connection.

It is not'necessaryto dispose the fusible ele- --ment 15 in either of the embodiments above described adjacent to the distributor, but itis preferable to ground the circuit as close to the distributor so as to eliminate any possible; short-r` flows therethrough. The mechanism employed., will not permit the cable to be cut and consequently thethief will find himself in a position requiring more time to avoid the locking mechanism than is feasible, if he'is not 'to create attention or cause suspicion.V Relying on thel heat.

effects of the current flow lfor establishing a.

Vground assures quicky and positiveaction at all times and eliminates possibility of parts failing such as might occur if other means are'employed.

While in the foregoing I have described what.

I now consider to be several preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that various changes in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims. v Y

I claim:

1. In anV ignition system, including i a distributor, the combination of a lock for the ignition wire, a cable between the said lock and said distributor, said cable including the' ignition wire, a plurality of false wires and an open live wire, and means operable by the heat effects of the current flow to establish a ground connection in the ignition wire upon contact of either of said false wires with said open live wire. i

2. In an ignition system, the-*combination of a. switch for controlling the ignition wire, means for establishing a grounded connection in said ignition wire, and a plurality of false wires adapted to cause actuation of the grounding means by the heat eifects of the current flow therethrough when either of said false wires are connected to a source .of current supply.Y L

f 3. In `an ignition system, including a distributor, the combination of a switch for the ignition wire, a cable between said switch and said distributor, said cable including the ignition wire, a false wire and an open live wire, and means disposed at said distributor operable by the heat effects of the current iiow to establish a ground upon contact of said false wire with said open live wire.

4. In an ignition system including a distributor, the combination with a switch for "the ignition circuit, a cable between said switch and said distributor, said cable including an ignition wire, a false wire and an open live wire, and fusible means operableA to establish a ground in the ignition circuit upon contact of said false wire with said open live wire.

5. In an ignition system, the combination o a switch for controlling the ignition circuit, electrical means operable by the heat effects of the current flow for establishing a ground connection in said ignition circuit, and false wiring adapted to cause actuation of said electrical means when said false wiring is connected to a source ofY current supply.

6. Theft preventing apparatus for automobiles .A

comprising, in combination, an igniton timer, a conduit extending therefrom with current conducting means therein, lock mechanism at the other end of said conduit for locking said circuit open, and means operable by the heat effects of the ilow of. current through said current conducting-means for: establishing fa ground for said tmer-* Y y 7'." Theft preventing apparatus for automobiles fcomprising, in; combination, an' ignition'f'circuit tion,`A andi means for-rendering said circuit inoperative, including a member operable by the heat effects of the now of current through said circuit and movable when operable to ground said circuit.

8. Theft preventing apparatus for automobiles comprising, in combination, an ignition circuit including current conducting means and a switch connected therewith for normally opening and closing said circuit, and means for rendering said circuit inoperative, said means being operable by the heat effects of the i'iow of current though said circuit upon an attempted unauthorized access to said current conducting means.

9. In an igniton system, the combination with van ignition wire, of means for producing a current iow upon mutilation of said ignition Wire, and means operable by the heat effects of the current iiow to establish a ground connection in said ignition wire. 10. In an ignition system, the combination with an igniton wire, of a grounded false wiring and an open live wire for producing a current ilow by an attempted destruction of said igniton wire, and means connected to said false wiring operable by the heat effects of the current flow and having provisions for contacting with said ignition wire to ground the same upon operation of said means.

11. In an ignition system, the combination with :an ignition circuit, of means for establishing a ,release said member.

12. In an ignition system, the combination with an ignition circuit, of mechanism for establishing a ground connection including a heat element, a grounded member, and means contacting with isaid heat element and normally fastening said member to prevent contact with said ignition circuit, and means for providing a current flow through said heat element whereby to destroy said iirst means and release said member.

13. In an ignition system, the combination with an ignition circuit, of mechanism for establishing a ground connection including a heat element and means for providing a current iiow through said heat element, a releasable member -normally held out of contact with said ignition circuit, and a combustible ribbon in contact with said heat element and holding said releasable member out of contact with said ignition circuit, said combustible ribbon adapted to burn and .release said member upon a current flow through said heat element.

14. In an ignition system including a distributor-timer, the combination of a switch for the ignition wire, a cable between said switch and lsaid distributor for said ignition wire, means for grounding saidrignition wire upon mutilationxof said cable, and means for grounding said ignition wire bythe Amovement of said switch to openV position.

l5. A lock forncontrolling the circuit leading to adistributor-timerr of an ignition system including a switch, 'a housing adapted to be mounted on saidl distributor, means disposed in said housing for. rendering said circuit inoperative, and means operable bythe :mounting of' said housing l en said distributor for interlockingly engaging said housing to said distributor.

16. A lock for controlling the circuit leading to a distributor-timer of an ignition system including a switch, a housing adapted to be mounted on said distributor, means in said housing for rendering said circuit inoperative, and means operable by the positioning of said housing on said distributor :for automatically interlocking said housing to said distributor.

17. In an ignition System, the combination of a distributor-timer having the usual body containing a breaker arm spring and the usual cap attached directly to said body, a protective guard element in said body and protecting said breaker arm spring against unauthorized displacement, and mechanically removable means for mounting said element in said body.

18. In an ignition system, the combination or" a distributor-timer having the usual body and the usual cap attached to said body, a protective guard element in said body for protecting an operative part of said distributor-timer, and means for mounting said element, said mounting means holding said guard element within said body in its protective relation with said operative part of said distributor-timer.

19. Theft preventing apparatus for automobiles comprising, in combination, a timer or an ignition circuit having a breaker arm carrying a movable contact engageable with a relatively stationary Contact for the normal control of said circuit, a terminal to which said breaker arm is connected, a housing adjacent to said timer adapted to contain therein means for rendering the operation of said timer contacts ineffective to control said ignition circuit, and means including said terminal for attaching said housing to said timer.

20. Theft preventing apparatus for automobiles comprising, in combination, a timer of an ignition circuit having contacts within the body therefor for the normal control of the circuit, a terminal for one of said contacts carried by the timer body, a housing adapted to contain therein means for rendering the operation of the timer contacts ineffective to control the ignition circuit, and means carried by the housing cooperating with the terminal for locking the housing to the timer body.

21. Theft preventing apparatus for automobiles comprising, in combination, a timer of an ignition circuit having contacts within the body thereof for the normal control of the circuit, a terminal in the circuit extending through the timer body, a lock-controlled device for controlling the circuit located at a point remote from the timer current conducting means between the timer and the lock-controlled device, a connection between the current conducting means and the terminal, a housing adapted to. be attached to the timer body to enclose said connection, and means automatically locking the housing against removal when the housing is moved into its position upon the timer body.

22. Theft preventing' ,apparatus Vfor automo-A t ducting ,means between the timer( and the normal circuit controlling means, a connection between the terminal and the current conducting means, a housing forenclosing saidconnection,

and means for attaching the housingiincluding a plate fixed against thertimer body by the terminal, the plate and terminal cooperatingwith the housing and connection to lock the housin against removah f EDWARD L. KULICK. j

ias, 

